Colorado Trail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colorado Trail |
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|---|---|
| Length | 486 mi (782 km) |
| Location | Colorado, United States |
| Trailheads | |
| Use | Hiking, biking and horseback riding |
| Highest point | 13,271 ft (4,045 m) |
| Lowest point | Mouth of Waterton Canyon (Denver terminus), 5,500 ft (1,700 m) |
| Difficulty | Moderate to strenuous |
| Season | Primarily July–September |
| Sights | Rocky Mountains |
| Hazards | Severe weather |
| Website | http://www.coloradotrail.org |
The Colorado Trail is a super long path for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It stretches for about 486 miles (782 km) across the beautiful state of Colorado, United States. This amazing trail starts near Denver and ends close to Durango. Along the way, it goes through high mountains, deep forests, and open areas. Most of the trail is really high up, often above 10,000 feet (3,048 meters)! It was finished in 1987 and is looked after by the Colorado Trail Foundation and the United States Forest Service.
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Exploring the Colorado Trail
The Colorado Trail is a well-known and marked path. It is mostly for people, horses, and bikes, not motor vehicles. The trail begins at Waterton Canyon, southwest of Denver. It then winds for about 486 miles (782 km) through Colorado's most mountainous areas. It finishes about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Durango.
On its journey, the trail crosses eight mountain ranges. It also goes through six National Forests and six wilderness areas. The lowest part of the trail is about 5,500 feet (1,676 meters) high near Denver. The highest point is 13,271 feet (4,045 meters) on the slopes of Coney in the San Juan Mountains.
The trail goes up and down a lot. A person hiking the whole trail will climb and descend about 89,000 feet (27,127 meters)! The trail passes through some of Colorado's most stunning scenery. You can see lots of wildlife and beautiful wildflowers when they are in bloom. Much of the trail goes through forests. But a good part of it is above the timberline, where trees cannot grow. Here, the views are truly amazing.
The trail goes through old mining towns and along ancient Native American paths. It even passes a modern ski resort. Other parts of the trail look just like they did 500 years ago. The western half of the trail, between Monarch Pass and Durango, feels more wild. It has bigger views and a wonderful display of wildflowers.
For 235 miles (378 km), the Colorado Trail shares its path with the Continental Divide Trail. This is on the Collegiate East route. On the Collegiate West route, the Colorado Trail follows the Continental Divide Trail for another 80 miles (129 km).
Weather on the Trail
Summer days on the trail are warm, and nights are cool. But mountain weather can be very unpredictable. It can even snow in any month of the year! Strong thunder and lightning storms might happen in the afternoon. However, they often quickly clear up, leaving warm sunshine and clear skies.
The best time to hike the entire Colorado Trail is usually July, August, and September. Lower parts of the trail near Denver can often be used from April through June. In winter, many parts of the trail are too difficult to use because of deep snow.
Hiking the Whole Trail
People who hike the entire trail in one trip are called thru-hikers. Most thru-hikers walk from east to west. They choose this direction because the snow usually melts earlier on the eastern part of the trail. Also, hiking east to west means you start with easier climbs. This helps hikers get stronger for the tougher western part of the trail in the San Juan Mountains.
The time it takes to thru-hike the Colorado Trail can be very different for each person. Some super fast runners can finish it in less than 10 days! But most thru-hikers spend about 4 to 6 weeks (28 to 42 days) on the trail.
Mountain Biking on the Trail
The Colorado Trail is one of the few big, long trails where mountain biking is allowed. Mountain bikes can be ridden on most of the trail. However, there are six wilderness areas where bikes are not allowed by federal rules.
Overall, the trail is great for bicyclists of all skill levels. Even top cyclists consider it a world-class long-distance trail for biking.
The Colorado Trail Foundation
The Colorado Trail Foundation is a non-profit group based in Golden, Colorado. This organization helps manage and keep the Colorado Trail in good shape. Each year, about 600 volunteers and 3,000 donors help the CTF. They maintain over 500 miles (805 km) of trail.
Every summer, their trail crews work for about 12 weeks and six weekends. They clear fallen trees, control erosion, and fix signs along the trail. These crews handle big projects. There is also an "Adopt-A-Trail" program. This program lets volunteers "adopt" one of 78 sections of the trail, each about eight miles (13 km) long, to help maintain.
The CTF also offers week-long guided trips on the trail each summer. They provide guides and support staff for hikers. The Foundation has a detailed website with lots of information about the trail. They also publish books and guides for hikers.
How the Foundation Works
The CTF is guided by a board of twelve people. It has a full-time Executive Director and one administrative staff member. In 2013, the foundation received just over $400,000 to help with its work.
History of the Trail
The idea for the Colorado Trail came about in 1973 from a group called the Roundup Riders of the Rockies. But the trail was not fully connected from end to end until 1987. The Colorado Trail Foundation (CTF) grew from teamwork between the United States Forest Service, the Colorado Mountain Trails Foundation, and volunteers. These volunteers came from groups like the Colorado Mountain Club and the Friends of the Colorado Trail. In 2005, the CTF and the Forest Service signed an agreement. This agreement explained their roles in making the trail even better in the future.
